Microsemi’s new IEEE 1588 timing synchronization module streamlines customers’ developments to add synchronization network timing to their designs, simplifies the sourcing process and reduces development time while providing an easy integration. The module also includes drivers, servos/algorithm firmware, IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol (PTP) stack software, a user guide and reference board schematics to deliver a fully tested chip-set solution from a trusted tier-one vendor.

“Our differentiated programmable solutions portfolio, including the SmartFusion2 SoC and PolarFire® FPGA, is gaining rapid acceptance in the communications and industrial infrastructure market,” said Bruce Weyer, vice president and business unit manager for programmable devices at Microsemi. “This tightly integrated solution with our class-leading timing and PHY components will further increase our momentum in these markets where highly accurate timing synchronization is becoming a clear requirement.”

The IEEE 1588 timing synchronization module blends Microsemi’s expertise in nanosecond-level accurate timestamping for IEEE 1588 via the VSC8575 Ethernet PHY; embedded IEEE 1588 protocol engine and servo via its SmartFusion2 SoC FPGA host processor; and high precision clock generation, holdover and reference switching via its ZL30363 system synchronizer. The solution is addressed via a command line interface to minimize software integration efforts. The combination of these capabilities makes the new solution ideal for applications within the industrial networking, smart grids, communications, defense and data center markets. Depending on the applications holdover and reliability requirements, either an XO, TCXO or OCXO can be used to provide holdover supported by the IEEE 1588 timing synchronization module.

According to a 2017 GNSS Market Report, issue 5, the timing capability offered by satellite navigation systems is at the core of most vital infrastructures; telecom networks operation, energy distribution, financial transactions and TV broadcast are some examples of areas where a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) is used for timing or synchronization purposes. The annual shipments of GNSS devices used in the timing and synchronization market will exceed 300,000 units in 2017 and are expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.3 percent over 2017 to 2025. Catering to this growth opportunity, Microsemi’s new IEEE 1588 timing synchronization module is designed specifically for such applications, which require much more precise timing, including base stations and small cell markets for 5G, 4G, 4G LTE, LTE-Advanced, microwave and mmWave based fixed wireless networks, smart grids and secure edge networks.

Other key features of Microsemi’s new IEEE 1588 timing synchronization module include:

High accuracy timestamping of less than four nanoseconds

Frequency and phase synchronization

Holdover with initial accuracy of < 1 ppb and long-term holdover of 1.5 µs over 24 hours using the appropriate performance OCXO